Does Your Car Insurance Address Have to Match Your License?

When it comes to car insurance, accuracy matters- especially when it comes to your address. So, does your driver’s license have to match the address for your car insurance policy? Here’s what to do if you need to change your address on your car insurance policy.

Does your driver’s license have to match your car insurance address?

The address on your driver’s license should be your residence address. For your car insurance policy, you will have a mailing address and a garaging address for each vehicle on your policy. The mailing address is where you want your bills and other insurance documents to be sent. The garaging address for a vehicle should be the address where the vehicle is garaged- this should be where it is kept most of the time when you are not using it. For most vehicles, that will be the same as your residence address, but it could be a different address. For example, a car that is kept at a vacation house or a car that is used by a student away at school could have a different garaging address than your residence.

Your car insurance company uses the garaging address of each vehicle on your policy as one of the key factors they consider when pricing your policy. This is because different areas have different risk factors, like climate and crime statistics.

It’s important to provide your insurance company with up-to-date address information. You want to make sure they have the correct mailing address so you will receive your bills and other important information. You also need to be sure they have the correct garaging address for each vehicle on the policy to ensure the vehicle is rated correctly, and to avoid having a claim denied or your policy cancelled due to misrepresentation.

Do you need to change the address on both your driver’s license and car insurance when moving to a new state?

Providing the current garaging address to your insurance company for each vehicle on your policy is important to ensure your policy is rated correctly. For example, if you’ve moved to a new town, the risk factors of insuring your car will change, so your insurance will be priced differently. As another example, if you previously parked your car on the street but your new residence has a garage, your premium could be lower.

The mailing address your insurance company has on file will be where they will send important documents like bills or insurance cards. If you don’t have the right mailing address listed on your insurance policy, you could miss notifications about your policy.

What to do with your insurance policy when moving to a new state

Notify your insurance company of the move. If they provide insurance in your new state, they may rewrite your policy to reflect your new address.

Sometimes, you may need to switch insurance companies due to a move. For example, your insurance company may not operate in the state you’re moving to. In this case, make sure your new coverage starts before your existing coverage ends to avoid a lapse in coverage.

Keep in mind that when you move to a different state, you’ll most likely be required to obtain a new driver’s license for that state and register your vehicle there within a certain time period.

Do car insurance costs change when you move to a new state?

Your car insurance costs will most likely change when you move. This is because the garaging location for each vehicle is an important rating factor for your insurance risk profile. Factors like the local traffic patterns, crime rate, weather risks and more are considered when an insurance company prices your policy. In addition, different regulatory requirements in each state affect the rating factors insurers may use.

Different states also have different requirements for the car insurance coverage you are required to buy. When you move to a new state, you will have to comply with that state’s insurance regulations. This could mean buying additional coverage you were not obligated to carry before.

What happens if the address on your insurance policy does not match your home address?

Inconsistent addresses can cause problems in the event of a claim. Since insurance companies base your insurance rates and coverage on where each car is garaged, having a different garaging address listed on your policy than the address where your car is actually garaged could result in your policy being cancelled or a claim being denied. It may also be a red flag to your insurance company as a potential indicator for fraud.

How to update your car insurance information

Contact your insurance company as soon as you’ve confirmed the move, and notify them of the new address and when you want the address change to take effect. You can do this by either calling your agent or your insurance company’s customer service department, or by logging into your insurance company’s online policy manager portal.

Be sure to have your policy number and details handy. This information can be found on your policy declarations page. You should also provide the updated garaging address, especially if it’s different from your home address. If your mileage and usage is changing because of the move, provide those details as well. In some cases, the insurance company may request proof of your new residence like a utility bill or lease agreement.

Finally, verify that your insurance documents are updated by checking your new policy documents. Pay attention to the start and end dates of your policies to ensure you don’t have a lapse in coverage.

Conclusion – Does your car insurance address have to match your license?

You should make sure your car insurance company has up to date address information. This helps ensure you’re paying an accurate price for your car insurance and that your car insurance coverage will be there for you when you need it. When you move, update your address both to your car insurance company and to the state motor vehicle division.